The Formation of Engineers seen by the Great International Organizations

1. The Formation of Engineers seen by the Great International Organizations Claudio da Rocha Brito President of Council of Researches in Education and Sciences E-mail: cdrbrito@copec.org.br Melany M. Ciampi President of Brazilian Nucleus of Environmental Researches and Health E-mail: melany@copec.org.br

2. Introduction • It is necessary to promote changes in the way engineers are educated at the present. There is a need to break up the old paradigm of education that perpetuates the mere technocratic formation. Following these thoughts there are some questions to be considered: • 1. Does this process of change really occur at the level of modern engineering education and training in different countries? • 2. Are the engineering students aware of the contemporary skill requirements of engineering experts? • 3. Does any program consider how much the new socio-occupational demands affect the professional formation of future engineers?

3. COPEC- Council of Researches in Education and Sciences • The Council of Researches in Education and Sciences is constituted by scientists of the several areas of human knowledge committed with education and the development of science and technology. Its members believe that education is the main beam in the construction of a better society and that sciences and technology are the big agents in the fostering of progress to promote the welfare of human being. • Constitute powers of the institution: • General Assembly • Deliberative Council • Board of Directors • Fiscal Council

4. COPEC- Council of Researches in Education and Sciences • COPEC is a member of (in alphabetical order): • CNE • IFEES • IGIP • SEFI

5. Engineering in Focus • Sustainable development with social promotion of individuals and society • Present status of Education in every level in western world • Education plays an important role in the development of peoples • It is fundamental the growth investment in education for all.

6. Engineering in Focus • The formation of engineers is fundamental to keep the level of development of humanity in order to achieve the social development similar to the technological. • The challenges of engineering education institutions are not limited only to the formation of a professional for a new global work market, but also to defeat the crises of education in which they are inserted. • The crucial problem is the necessity of think again the kind of education which has fragmented knowledge that drives people to an inability of articulating its several parts.

7. The Role of University • University • Its mission is essentially the conservation of cultural inheritance generating ideas, values and knowledge. • It has to defeat the challenge of present world serving the contemporary society viewing the future. • It has to provide for the society the new citizen forming the professional prepared to face the unpredictable challenges of the future and to be a winner.

8. Engineering Education Projects developed by COPEC • Along almost 5 years the group of engineering education researchers has developed many successful innovative programs that were implemented in different universities. Some of them were in under graduation level such as: • Computer Science Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Environmental Engineering • Biomedical Engineering • Electrical and Civil Engineering • Fishing Engineering • Social Engineering

9. Engineering Education Projects developed by COPEC • Besides the programs COPEC has implemented some other projects designed to serve engineering students of any engineering school of the region such as: • Civil Engineering Internship Project • CIB – Cultural Immersion: • In Brazil • Abroad

10. The Formation of the Engineer • Based on its experience designing and implementing engineering programs COPEC has established some guide lines to be applied : Flexible Programs More Practical Activities Internship

11. The Formation of the Engineer • The formation of the engineer must consider above all: aptitude to conduct and implement projects responsabilities for actions and results creativity and innovation potential mastering technologies' evolution positive attitudes and behaviors the willing to learn all life long international experience entrepreneurship mind respect to diversity communication skills Basic Sciences of Engineering to work in teams Basic Sciences strong ethics

12. New ways and approaches to form the professional have to be implemented because the university is the institution responsible for the final product of the long educational system in any country. With weak or good pupils the mission is to prepare the engineers to work and make the world goes round using new technologies and promote the advancement of sciences. The formation of engineers should focus on the generalist formation and to stimulate in the students the capability to develop their creativity; to teach them how to use the information to improve their work as well as to commit with environment; and above all to adopt a strong ethics. Final Considerations